ThingLink Spotlight! Lighting Up Immersive Learning with Duo Manisha and Kevin
ThingLink Luminaries is a series of guest blog posts highlighting certified trainers who are creating interactive and immersive experiences to make learning more engaging, accessible, and meaningful. Our educators and learning designers bring a thoughtful approach to immersive learning, and their work reflects a deep commitment to creativity, pedagogy, and innovation.
In each profile post, we’ll explore their background, teaching philosophy, and favorite ThingLink projects—offering insight into how they’re making a lasting impact in their classrooms, organizations and communities! Enjoy!
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Introducing Manisha Mort
Manisha is a Learning Technologist based within the Learning & Teaching Enhancement Centre (LTEC) at the University of Salford, UK. Within her role, she brings a wide range of technical and creative skill to high-impact digital projects across the University, as well as guiding subject matter experts on how to bring subjects to life by leveraging edtech tools and pedagogical practices to enrich the overall academic journey for students. Prior to becoming a Learning Technologist, Manisha worked predominantly within the science sector as a senior biomedical sciences lab technician within the School of Science, Engineering and Environment at the University, as well as working as a technician within the NHS across various trusts. She holds a BSc (Hons) and MPhil in Biological Sciences.
Introducing Kevin Ingham
Kevin is also a Learning Technologist within the LTEC team. His areas of focus and specialism include all aspects of technologically driven assessment and feedback, design and content creation tools and processes, and the effective usage and ethics surrounding Generative AI in education and learning. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Electronic Imaging & Media Communication, an MA in Post-Production: Sound Design, and a PGCAP. He is also an occasional lecturer on degree programmes at the University of Salford.
Manisha and Kevin’s ThingLink Project
Kevin and I created a quick, “rough and ready” escape room experience using ThingLink, based on the Victorian street exhibit at our local museum. Our goal was to show teaching staff at the University of Salford just how simple it can be to build an engaging and immersive learning environment using ThingLink, even with limited time and resources available to them. We wanted to highlight that such activities can effectively support intended learning objectives (ILOs) without becoming overly complex or time-consuming. In this case, the three ILOs were: a) To learn about the history of Victorian Salford. b) To virtually explore the ‘Victorian Street’ at Salford Museum. c) To participate in a collaborative exercise that fosters online teamwork and communication within a virtual setting.
What inspired you to create this project?
Our idea to create an online escape room was inspired by the local resources and accessible technologies available to staff at the University of Salford. We wanted to demonstrate how easy it can be to design something fun and imaginative without requiring a significant time investment—something we know is a key concern for staff, especially during the busiest periods of the academic year.
By setting ourselves a deadline of two days to collect the resources, put together a narrative and to put the ThingLink together, we wanted to prove that anybody with limited time could put something similar together. By also centering the activity around Salford Museum (which is also situated on our main campus), we aimed to offer a fresh perspective on a familiar place.
Even those who had previously visited the Victorian street could experience it in a completely new and interactive way! When putting this experience together, we knew that we also wanted to utilise the use of Generative AI (GenAI) in a positive way. We proceeded to use GenAI to help create the narrative and characters within the main storyline (i.e the mechanics, or “gamification” elements of the activity), which at the time of showcasing this ThingLink during our workshop, was an area of great interest to staff who were uncertain about the ways that GenAI could be useful within their job role to help support learning and teaching.
How was the project presented?
It was important to the both of us that the staff who attended our online workshop also needed to experience this ThingLink initially from the perspective of a student without being given any additional instructions on how to navigate their way around the virtual street. This activity was carried out using breakout rooms within Microsoft Teams, with individual staff members being teamed together with other colleagues who they may not have met or worked with before. This gave them a good insight to the activity and allowed them to eventually see the benefits of the ThingLink project from both the student and teacher perspective by the end of the workshop.
By sharing our own thoughts and experiences with participants on how Kevin and I put the whole ThingLink together within a two-day deadline, it allowed other conversations to naturally flow with our participants including “did this activity support the ILOs” and “how could we have made this ThingLink experience better for future sessions?”. Most importantly, it taught colleagues to “be brave!” when learning new technologies and putting together new activities with students, and that things don’t have to be perfect the first time it is run – things can easily evolve and change over time if needed.
What do you love about ThingLink?
MANISHA: I’m passionate about exploring how educational technology tools like ThingLink can transform teaching by making learning more dynamic, inclusive, and accessible. One of the most rewarding parts of my work is watching a previously hesitant staff member discover ThingLink for the first time—then later seeing the inspiring, creative projects they go on to develop, both independently and in collaboration with colleagues. It’s incredibly fulfilling to witness ideas that embraces creativity and innovation to come to life that also creates a lasting impact!
KEVIN: I love how simple it is to create projects in ThingLink, yet how open to creativity it is as well. Taking on-board the ethos of learning exercises having ‘low floors, high ceilings and wide walls’, it’s so easy and accessible to get started, yet the scope of what you can create with ThingLink is almost endless, and its versatility is so creatively inspiring!
Mo and Kevin’s Fun Facts!
MANISHA: I love learning new skills and trying out new hobbies! Most recently I have gained a black belt in Tang Soo Do (A Korean martial art), I very recently completed my first half marathon and now I am learning how to play the drums!
KEVIN: My first teaching job was working in a public library in Leeds, where I ran ‘Silver Surfer’ sessions for retired members of public, teaching them how to use the internet. The fact we called it ‘Surfing’ gives you an idea of how long ago that was!
